Upcoming events in Valencia

- The Maratón de Valencia 2010, the Spanish city’s annual marathon, celebrates its 30th edition on 21st February 2010. Inscriptions for Maratón de Valencia 2010 is open to anyone over 18, and there’s a discount if you took part in the “Media Maratón de Valencia, 2009” half-marathon event.

- As always, in 2010 the Fallas take place in Valencia from 15-19 March, when Valencia celebrates its annual festival of fire, with the “fallas” (huge paper-maché figurines) as main attraction. If you love pyrotechnics, the Fallas de Valencia 2010 is most definitely your thing!

- The 2010 edition of Formaempleo, Valencia’s annual training and employment fair, runs from 15-17 April 2010. If you want to find out about the latest job offers and training programmes, get down to Formaempleo 2010 at the Feria de Valencia.

Valencia...Mediterranean Atmosphere

What does Valencia have to offer? The answer is everything! Endless fiestas, the fire and passion of las Fallas, a host of cutting-edge cultural events, clean beaches and a wonderful sunny Mediterranean climate, incredible gastronomy and a solid infrastructure for business trips. Valencia combines the friendliness of the south with the practicality of the north and travellers are generally given a warm welcome by the open, unpretentious people of the city.

The orange Valencia

Valencia is Spain’s third largest city, situated at the centre of the Spanish Mediterranean coastline on a strip known as Costa del Azahar, opposite the Balearic Islands, halfway between Madrid and Barcelona. In recent years, Valencia has become a popular holiday destination and a great choice for weekend breaks on the continent, attracting new visitors away from the traditional tourist haunts of the Costa Blanca.

Valencia...not just architecture

There are roughly 1 million inhabitants in Valencia and the languages spoken are Castilian (Spanish) and Valencian. A strong sense of cultural identity prevails and the local government is very keen to promote cultural events and keep traditions alive. Various fiestas take place through out the whole year but the largest and most spectacular is, without doubt, las Fallas.

Las Fallas happens on March 19th every year; each neighbourhood spends the whole year fundraising for this event and builds some sort of enormous construction to be burnt on this day, filling the streets of Valencia with the warmth and light of bonfires and fireworks. There is something very genuine about the fiestas in Valencia; here visitors can have the rare experience of observing local traditions without the feeling that it is a show put on for the tourists.

Valencia...sea culture

El Carmen, the historical part of town is a beautiful neighbourhood full of winding streets and wonderful architecture dating back to Roman and Arabic times. The neighbourhood, or “barrio” in Spanish, is crowned by Plaza de la Reina. Other major attractions include the enormous modernist style Central Market (Mercado Central), the art-deco style railway station, Plaza de la Virgen, the Cathedral, the Gothic silk exchange building (la lonja de seda) and the Torres de Serranos, the ancient gateway to the walled city.

The newest and most popular tourist attractions to the city are the Oceanografic Sealife Centre and the spectacular, futuristic City of Arts and Sciences, designed by Santiago Calatrava. The Turia Gardens, in the dry riverbed is a beautiful park full of ponds, paths, fountains, flowers, football pitches, cafes and quiet places to escape the bustle of the city.

But let’s not forget that Valencia is a beach city although the clean waters and fine golden sand will make you feel as though you were a million miles away from the metropolis. The port area, home to the America’s Cup, really comes alive in summer and is home to some of Valencia’s finest nightlife and paella restaurants. More and more tourists discover what this city has to offer each year and yet, it manages to maintain its unique character and authenticity. Experience a traditional, unpretentious yet modern and exciting part of Spain….experience Valencia!